W. Sterling Edwards oral history collection
Collection
Identifier: HHC 77
Scope and Content
The 1994 interview, conducted by Dr. Jake Spidle, with Dr. W. Sterling Edwards (1920-2004), a thoracic (cardiac) surgeon and faculty member at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, surveys his life and career with special emphasis on his 18 years in the UNM Department of Surgery. Dr. Edwards was chairman of that department, the third in it history, from 1974 until his retirement in 1987. Among the subjects discussed are Dr. Edwards' personal and professional backgrounds; the shaping of his professional, especially his research, interests; his tenure in the UNM-SOM Department of Surgery and its development over the period 1969-1987.
Dates
- 1994
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
The oral history is available for research and open to the public.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of print materials allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Biography or History
W. Sterling Edwards (1920-2004) was born into a Birmingham, Alabama medical family on July 23, 1920. After high school, he entered the Virginia Military Institute as a premedical student and graduated in 1942. In 1945, Edwards received his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Edwards completed his internship at Massachusetts General Hospital (1945-1946) and his residency in Surgery at the same institution (1948-1952), serving with the United States Army Medical Corps between his internship and residency. Following a fellowship in Cardiovascular Physiology at Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, Dr. Edwards returned to Alabama as a faculty member at the Medical College of Alabama. During his 17 years at the school, Dr. Edwards built an animal laboratory in which he conducted extensive cardiovascular research and where he developed the first synthetic artery. Although his achievements in research were significant, he took special pride in his teaching abilities.
In the late 1960s, Dr. Edwards decided to leave Alabama for a faculty position at the newly founded University of New Mexico Department of Surgery. He arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife, Ann Dudley Edwards, and their family in September, 1969. During his first five years at the University of New Mexico, Dr. Edwards focused on building a heart program within the Department of Surgery. Incorporating local doctors into the teaching format, Edwards formed ties between the department and the surgical community. In 1974 Dr. Edwards accepted the position of Chairman of the Department of Surgery, becoming the third chair in departmental history. During his tenure, Dr. Edwards placed an emphasis on the development of the surgery residency program and oversaw the establishment of numerous surgical sub-specialties. Dr. Edwards ended his thirteen year career as Surgery Chairman when he retired in 1987.
After retirement, Dr. Edwards entered a new phase in his medical career. Noticing how uncomfortable and helpless most doctors, himself included, were when dealing with terminally ill patients, Dr. Edwards began one-on-one counseling with patients who were dying and their families. After consulting with the physician of record, Dr. Edwards would discuss the medical condition and treatment with the patient using non-medical terms. Additionally, he would act as an interpreter by asking the physician questions on behalf of the patient, who was either unable or too embarrassed to ask directly. Dr. Edwards also was active with the Albuquerque Center for Attitudinal Healing. In 1998, Dr. Edwards and his family established the Edwards Family Endowment with the University of New Mexico School of Medicine that would allocate $20, 000 for approved projects pertaining to the enhancement of communication skills for the medical school community.
In 1997, Dr. W. Sterling Edwards was honored for his commitment to the University of New Mexico School of Medicine with the W. Sterling Edwards Endowed Professorship of Surgery. Dr. Edwards resided with his family in Albuquerque, New Mexico until his death on June 28, 2004 at the age of 84. On August 11, 2004, the Multimodality Imaging Laboratory at the University of Alabama-Birmingham was dedicated in the memory of W. Sterling Edwards, M.D.
In the late 1960s, Dr. Edwards decided to leave Alabama for a faculty position at the newly founded University of New Mexico Department of Surgery. He arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife, Ann Dudley Edwards, and their family in September, 1969. During his first five years at the University of New Mexico, Dr. Edwards focused on building a heart program within the Department of Surgery. Incorporating local doctors into the teaching format, Edwards formed ties between the department and the surgical community. In 1974 Dr. Edwards accepted the position of Chairman of the Department of Surgery, becoming the third chair in departmental history. During his tenure, Dr. Edwards placed an emphasis on the development of the surgery residency program and oversaw the establishment of numerous surgical sub-specialties. Dr. Edwards ended his thirteen year career as Surgery Chairman when he retired in 1987.
After retirement, Dr. Edwards entered a new phase in his medical career. Noticing how uncomfortable and helpless most doctors, himself included, were when dealing with terminally ill patients, Dr. Edwards began one-on-one counseling with patients who were dying and their families. After consulting with the physician of record, Dr. Edwards would discuss the medical condition and treatment with the patient using non-medical terms. Additionally, he would act as an interpreter by asking the physician questions on behalf of the patient, who was either unable or too embarrassed to ask directly. Dr. Edwards also was active with the Albuquerque Center for Attitudinal Healing. In 1998, Dr. Edwards and his family established the Edwards Family Endowment with the University of New Mexico School of Medicine that would allocate $20, 000 for approved projects pertaining to the enhancement of communication skills for the medical school community.
In 1997, Dr. W. Sterling Edwards was honored for his commitment to the University of New Mexico School of Medicine with the W. Sterling Edwards Endowed Professorship of Surgery. Dr. Edwards resided with his family in Albuquerque, New Mexico until his death on June 28, 2004 at the age of 84. On August 11, 2004, the Multimodality Imaging Laboratory at the University of Alabama-Birmingham was dedicated in the memory of W. Sterling Edwards, M.D.
Extent
1 oversize folder, 1 audio tape, 1 diskette
Abstract
This oral history documents the career and contributions of Dr. W. Sterling Edwards (1920-2004) in the field of surgical medicine. Included in the collection are the final transcript, audio tape, and diskette from of an oral history conducted on November 11, 1994.
Separated Material
Original audio recording and diskette are stored in the Special Collections Annex.
Bibliography
Publications by W. Sterling Edwards.
- Alexis Carrel: Visionary Surgeon, by Edwards, W. Sterling and Peter D. Edwards.
- Making the Patient Your Partner: Communication Skills for Doctors and other Caregivers, by Gordon, Thomas and W. Sterling Edwards.
- Plastic Arterial Grafts.
- What Does My Life Mean? WZ 100 E26 2000 NM/SW. New Mexico Health Historical Collection.
Processing Information
These materials were processed in 1994 by Janet Johnson.
- Anesthesiology.
- Communication.
- Counseling.
- Device, Heart-Assist.
- Education, Medical.
- Faculty, Medical.
- Hospitals, University.
- Mitral Valve Stenosis.
- Oral histories
- Oxygenators.
- Physician-Patient Relations.
- Psychiatry.
- Research, Medical.
- Spidle, Jake W., 1941-
- Surgery, Cardiac.
- Surgery, Plastic.
- Surgery, Thoracic.
- Title
- Inventory of the W. Sterling Edwards Oral History, 1994
- Status
- Approved
- Author
- Processed by Janet Johnson. Revised by Danielle Scott.
- Date
- ©2005
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center Repository
Contact:
MSC 09 5100
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque New Mexico 87131 United States
505-272-2311
hsc-archivist@salud.unm.edu
MSC 09 5100
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque New Mexico 87131 United States
505-272-2311
hsc-archivist@salud.unm.edu